The joy of performing La Fille mal gardée

Video Description

Dancers of The Royal Ballet share the joy of performing Frederick Ashton’s ballet about a capricious girl who hopes to marry her love. Brimming with humour and choreographic invention, La Fille mal gardée is the perfect ballet for all the family. La Fille mal gardée returns to the Royal Opera House Main Stage from 23 May - 9 June 2026 – book now: https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-events/la-fille-mal-gardee-frederick-ashton-details Although we can trace the history of the ballet to Jean Dauberval’s original from 1789 – making La Fille mal gardée one of the oldest works in the classical ballet canon – today, it is Frederick Ashton’s production for The Royal Ballet that is perhaps the most widely-performed. Featuring some of Ashton’s most brilliantly virtuosic choreography and comedic moments such as Widow Simone’s clog dance, La Fille mal gardée is a signature work of The Royal Ballet. When La Fille mal gardée premiered in Covent Garden on 28 January 1960, it instantly won all hearts. Inspired by Jean Dauberval’s French ballet, Ashton’s version combines exuberant good humour and an affectionate portrayal of village life. The Royal Ballet’s Founder Choreographer, Ashton hoped to capture the ‘leafy pastoral of perpetual sunshine...the suspended stillness of a Constable landscape of my beloved Suffolk, luminous and calm’. Osbert Lancaster’s colourful designs bring the charm of the countryside to life. Highlights include the 'pas de ruban' (ribbon dance), where Lise and Colas dance together, their bodies intertwined by a ribbon – a symbol of their tender love. In order to evoke the bliss of the rustic countryside, Ashton also included elements of national folk dance – from maypole dancing to a Lancashire clog dance for Widow Simone. To find exclusive souvenirs and gifts inspired by Ashton's ballet: explore the La Fille mal gardée collection at the Royal Ballet and Opera Shop: https://shop.rbo.org.uk/collections/la-fille-mal-gardee #RoyalBalletAndOpera Enjoy this video? Subscribe to our channel for more: https://www.youtube.com/@RoyalBalletAndOpera For more: Royal Ballet and Opera Stream sign up now: https://bit.ly/3V0JMaO Tickets: https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-events Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/royalballetandopera Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/royalballetandopera TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@royalballetandopera X: https://x.com/rbo_org Threads: https://www.threads.net/@royalballetandopera LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/royalballetandopera